A Bond of Hope: destination Cairhien (attn. Carys Sedai)

[Elessar]

OOC: This is a sub-RP to the Yellow Ajah Secret Investigation RP, a separate and parallell string as it were for Elessar and Carys. It takes place as the Yellow Ajah Investigation party from the White Tower is in Cairhien. The Warder-trainee and Sandientha Sedai are NPC-characters used for the purpose of Elessar’s journey to Cairhien.

 

IC: The banners standing proudly on top of the Shining Walls of Tar Valon, ancient city of the Aes Sedai, rippled softly in the breeze coming out of the far reaches of the north.

 

In the pre-dawn hour Elessar unsheathed his sword, beginning to go through the forms. A Warder had to practice often to keep that small edge, that extra piece of sharp attentiveness and excellence as he flowed from one form into the next .. Unfolding the Fan, the opening move, which flowed into Low Wind Rising, a diagonal slash which began low and rose cleanly, followed by The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain, a vertical slash starting high and which in this case altered course in midswing, paired with Tower of Morning, a verticle slash but this time beginning low and ending high.

 

In the Void he felt complete calmness and truly felt one with his sword, a participant in a never-ending dance of motion. A few pearls of sweat beaded on his bare chest, arms and forehead as he moved efficiently through the forms, his focus all on his imagined opponent before him. The Falling Leaf and then straight into The River Undercuts the Bank.

 

For quite some time he moved from one form into the next, until at last he ended the session with Folding the Fan, sheathing his blade. The sword was smoothly swung around from guard stance and sheathed, all in one motion. He breathed a little heavily, but that was to be expected after this exertion, and he was well pleased with the practice session.

 

He walked across the Warders Yard in the direction of the barracks but was intercepted halfway by a Warder-trainee who came rushing out bearing a note for Elessar. He looked hard at the trainee, then grinned. “I see I am not the only one up early today”, he said. Opening the note, he saw that it was from his superior. It was an order for Elessar to get ready to escort an Aes Sedai to Cairhien. Today. “I guess I can forget about my afternoon workout then”, he mumbled to himself as he put the note away.

 

“Are you ready for the unexpected, son?” Elessar said, looking him in the eye. The young trainee was somewhat taken aback by the question and hesitated before replying. Looking around with a pensive look, Elessar nodded to himself. “Always be ready for the unexpected. A Warder always must be.” The trainee nodded, sensing that there was more to Elessar’s words than what was there on the surface. Elessar dismissed the trainee and headed back to his quarters. He had a job to do. Not the most exciting mission but it would have to do. Well, at least it’s better than doing nothing, he thought scornfully to himself. I have become quite good at that lately. A small voice in the back of his head berated him for his self-pity but he ignored it.

 

High above, as night turned into day, a pair of swallows chased each other on the breeze, joining in a dance of joy.

[Elessar]

It was close to midday by the time Elessar and Sandientha Sedai left the White Tower behind, bound for Cairhien. The early morning breeze had picked up and the northern wind blew in their faces as they rode slowly through the streets of Tar Valon. Elessar rode slightly ahead of the Aes Sedai, his eyes everywhere in the way of Warders. He wore his colour-shifting Warder’s cloak and his longsword fastened to a strap on Stormbreaker’s, his faithful black stallion’s, right side. The buzz of the city surrounded them and with the busy streets it took them a while to get to the gate. They then crossed the southern bridge out of Tar Valon and headed down the road toward Cairhien at a trot.

 

It was almost as if he were out travelling with his Bondholder. She isn’t my Bondholder Elessar thought scornfully to himself. It was strange how easy it was to fall back into his Warder-routine. This was a simple mission: bring Sandientha Sedai safely and swiftly to Cairhien. Nothing more. He was not her Warder and she was not his Sedai. And a good thing that is, the small voice whispered disdainfully in the back of his head. If she were, you would probably manage to get her killed too.

 

His face hardened further and a couple walking at the side of the road jumped to the side as his black stallion rushed past them at high speed. He cursed at himself as he realized that there was now a gap between him and the Sister. He returned to her side and calmed himself, reaching for the Oneness deep inside him. He was not now as aware of all things around him as he had been when bonded to his Aes Sedai, his senses tuned and heightened from the Bond, but he felt more at ease and more focused when embracing that Oneness. Even so, his emotional scars were a part of him and he knew that they made him weaker than he had once been. That man is gone, he thought bitterly. Forgive me, Leandreen. Forgive me, Carrain. It should have been me. Me.

 

They travelled south-east toward Cairhien following the main road. At first they passed many people - farmers, local people but also travellers from other lands if their clothes were any indication - but gradually fewer and fewer. Most seemed to be going northwards. Elessar and the Aes Sedai spoke little, conferring only on a couple of occasions. This suited Elessar well. His mood had grown sour, his thoughts brooding on the past. The Warder had no knowledge of the Aes Sedai’s mission and that was fine by him. He would get her safely to her destination and then he would return to Tar Valon as ordered.

 

The weather changed as they journeyed and instead of looking for an inn further south they decided to make camp in a secluded forest near the main road on that first night out of Tar Valon, with rain streaming down from the heavens like tears. Once they had eaten a little and built a shelter to sleep, Elessar took care of the horses and then walked around the surrounding area to make sure it was safe. Once again this was something he did almost automatically, but the Aes Sedai only nodded and said nothing. Bandits roamed the land in this day and age, so it was better to be safe than sorry.

 

They were on their way again the following morning, as sunshine swept across the countryside in a warm embrace of a new day. The sunny weather did not match Elessar’s mood, however. In the four or so years - was it that long? - since Carrain Sedai had died he had been mostly in the White Tower. It had taken a while for him to return from the shores of insanity.. the breaking of a Bond could destroy lesser men.. and after that.. well.. he had not been quite himself. Time and care had brought him back.. in part at least .. but he had in truth only been outside Tar Valon a dozen times since then. A few times on escort-duty, a few times as a messenger. But on none of those missions had he felt his past come back to haunt him like now.

 

His usually hard face became even harder as he rode on toward their destination. His dark eyes burned, sweat beaded on his forehead, his shame reddened his face. All he could see in his mind’s eye was Leandreen’s and Carrain’s eyes - their dead eyes - staring at him accusingly. And in his ears he heard whispered his unbreakable promise to them both, given at the Bonding. I will serve and protect you to death and beyond. My life before yours.

 

My life before yours.

[Elessar]

They entered Cairhien on a cloudy afternoon and rode onwards toward the Capital of the same name. Elessar was in a stable mood once again, his plagued memories pushed into the back of his mind. For a time at least. He had always been interested in stories, books and poetry - interests approved of and given nourishment by his mother as he grew up - and once he started Warder-training in the White Tower he learned even more about the history of the lands. He had been in Cairhien on several occasions in earlier travels with his previous bondholders, but it was some time now since his last visit and in his mind he ran through part of what he knew about this nation which in the east bordered with the Spine of the World.

 

Originally the country had been called Al'cair'rahienallen, which in the old Old Tongue meant "Hill of the Golden Dawn." The city and country were weakened in the Aiel War. Cairhien, like many of the current nations, became sovereign at the end of the War of the Hundred Years. For four hundred years after, it enjoyed a period of unprecedented wealth. This was due primarily to the Aiel, who granted Cairhienen the exclusive right to cross the Aiel Waste and trade for silk in Shara. This prosperity ended when Laman Damodred cut down Avendoraldera, a cutting from the Tree of Life and a gift from the Aiel, and unknowingly sparked the Aiel War. During this war the city of Cairhien was burned and partially destroyed.

 

The cost of war is always high,Elessar thought to himself. Most often higher than expected. But then again, sometimes it is worth the cost.

 

Today the Cairhienin were perhaps best known for having invented Daes Dae'mar (the Game of Houses), a system of intrigue and clever political plotting. In truth they were only matched - or, as some believed, bettered - by the Servants to All, though most Warders would thread very carefully in front of Aes Sedai if ever that subject came up.

 

The city of Cairhien was situated on the east bank of the River Alguenya and Sandientha Sedai and Elessar reached the river and stopped. Soon they were inside the city gates, riding slowly along the streets for some time until Sandientha finally motioned for them to stop outside an ordinary looking inn called “The Silver Swan”. Elessar’s gaze swept up and down the street and studied the surrounding houses, then he took the Sedai’s horse as well as his own and went to the back of the inn to get them taken care of by a stable-boy. By the time he returned to the front of the building the Aes Sedai had gone inside. He entered, passing a rough-looking fellow standing by the entrance-door, giving him a no-nonsense-look. Sandientha had found a table at the back and Elessar seated himself beside her without a word. The inn was about half-full and from what Elessar could see most of those present were locals. None seemed to pay them any attention.

 

They had reached their destination. The Aes Sedai thanked him for the escort he had given and for the safe journey and told him that she would make her own way from there. He was to return to the White Tower. He nodded silently, part of him uncertain if it was a good idea to just leave her there, a Sedai with no Warder, part of him happy to be finished with the job. In the end he gave her a warder’s salute, carried her things up to the room she had been given by the round-cheeked somewhat chubby but pleasant Cairhienin innkeeper, and left. He went to see to Stormbreaker in the stables and checked that his longsword was well hidden. He did not have to leave immediately, so he put his things aside and headed up the street toward a tavern on a corner to have an ale before the return journey to Tar Valon.

 

As he rounded the corner, he bumped into a dark-cloaked dangerous-looking man who gave Elessar a hard look before walking off down the street. Elessar recognized the type. There were troublemakers in every city. Cairhien was no exception. As he turned to enter the tavern a fist smashed into his side. Caught unawares, he stumbled slightly but quickly his Warder-reactions came into play. He regained his balance and saw that there were two men, both rough-looking, one on each side of him. He struck the one to his left a hard blow and followed it by a kick to the other man’s knees. The man grunted in pain and stumbled backwards. The other man punched at Elessar’s side but the Warder parried well. Focused now in the Void, Elessar feinted a lower punch and his elbow instead crashed into the man’s shoulder producing a scream of pain. The man fell to the ground in agony and Elessar turned to face the other man. The man looked long and hard into Elessar’s face and then at his comrade and shook his head. He grabbed the other man’s arm, pulled him to his feet and they stumbled away from the Warder at a run.

 

Soon both were running hard down the side-street, albeit one haltingly, Elessar close behind them. He was angry, and the anger at being caught unawares and being attacked by such thugs - for thugs he was sure they were - made him chase the pair. He was quick but they knew the streets better and soon they eluded him at a corner, rushing headlong down a dark path, and Elessar came to a halt, breathing heavily. Cursing loudly, he regained his breath and turned back toward the street from where he had come. Already he regretted having made the chase.

 

As he walked on he passed a dark alley where shadows filled everything from the rooftops and down to the pavement. On the other side of the street, simmilarly embraced in near-darkness, a cloaked person bent to speak to another by her - he somehow felt sure this was a woman - side. He stopped in his tracks. Something was wrong. He could not pin-point what it was but he felt danger here. His dark eyes pierced the darkness and though he knew that his vision and senses would have been even stronger had he been a bonded Warder, since heightened senses were part of what a Warder received through the bond to his Sedai, his long experience as a Gaidin gave him an important edge. There was slight movement off to his right.

 

He began to run toward the cloaked figure of the woman, even before he knew what he was doing, and with a shout of warning and a massive leap he threw himself at her, carrying them both crashing to the ground, just as a deadly arrow embedded itself in the building just behind where she had been standing a moment earlier. A second arrow whistled in the air and narrowly missed them both. There were screams from up the road and the sound of running feet. Elessar struggled to get to his feet, but surprisingly felt dizzyness overcoming him and fell onto his side. He had no strength left. And there was pain. What was wrong!? It was only then when he painfully raised his head to look, that he saw the third arrow protruding from his left leg. He was fast losing conciousness but even so he knew the danger he was in, and was able to whisper a single word - “poison” - to the woman beside him before everything went black.

[keyholder21]

The trip to Cairhein had been easy enough, though full of bruisings and Healings for the Sisters who hadn't ridden in years or had never ridden. Carys had tried to tell them that Healing their aches and pains overnight merely made the next day seem worse but no one had wanted to listen to her. At a mere sixty-five, she was decades younger than the rest. Power didn't help her either; she sat firmly in the middle of the group. Because of these two things, and possibly the combination of the two, Carys rarely had her say and even more scarce was if they listened. There had been two things that kept her from being completely alienated on the trip: her skill with animals and her unique approach on Healing. Amadine had told her with quiet admiration that she'd only met one other with an approach like that. The young Yellow had wanted to ask who, but Seheria had stepped between them with a grimace and some small grievance to take up with the group leader.

 

Now that they were in Cairhein and comfortable in the Storm Leader's, as he called himself, mansion, Carys was practically ignored. Normally, she would have basked in the quiet and slipped away to the infirmary, but there was no infirmary here. Here, she would not be able to lose herself in an unsolvable problem or helping a patient. Here, she was forced to insert herself into the conversation and offer suggestions. If word got back to the First Weaver that she hadn't contributed – no matter how the other Aes Sedai treated her – she would be shut out from the infirmary for going against orders.

 

The Altaran shut the door quietly behind her and walked toward the North wing. The heavy carpets muffled her steps, seemingly magnifying the rustle of her skirts. The mansion was expansive and accomodating, as promised. Her rooms held the scent of emptiness years in the making. The whole place did actually, save for the North wing and the servants quarters. Servants quarters were always busy and the North wing was where Skechid had made his 'home' inside his home.

 

The Sitting Room was unoccupied. That was uncommon; since the group had been here the elder Yellows had taken up residence – sharing their information over cups of tea in front of the massive fireplace. Picking up the top sheet from a stack of papers, Carys read over the notes. The notes were detailed, concise, and informative to a strange reader. These had been taken by Amadine; she recognized the woman's writing from her files in the Infirmary. She set the paper back down and then turned to face the hall again as a soft noise sounded behind her.

 

A servant stood there, dressed in Skechid's house colors, holding a silver platter in his hands. Atop the platter sat a cream envelope, the lumpy wax seal burgundy. Clearing his throat softly for the second time, the servant stepped forward and proffered the tray to her. “Aes Sedai, this letter was dropped off for the party. I was instructed to give it to the first Aes Sedai I came across.” His look was perfectly blank, betraying nothing of what he thought of the women staying under his master's roof. And so it should be. Carys had become used to servants during her time at the White Tower, but she spent time in their company. It wasn't that she wouldn't, but rather that she was busy and they were trained to be invisible.

 

Carys took the letter off the tray and glanced at the wax seal so she could see it up close. It wasn't anything she recognized. She slipped her thumb under the cover, but stopped before ripping it open. “Do you know who this is from?” she asked, still studying the seal. The dark wax imprint showed a cat pouncing on a mouse. Or maybe it was a rat.

 

“I'm afraid I do not Aes Sedai. The messenger was not a member of the house, nor did he state who it was from. He merely stated that it was for the party of Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah.” The servant again offered the perfect facial expressions – sorrow that he could not answer her question and calm as if he was ready for anything else she asked. Dismissing the man, Carys sat in the nearest chair and opened the mysterious envelope.

 

Hours later, she arrived at the alley as the letter had instructed. She knew it was dangerous and she knew that it was probably folly, but so far their investigation had turned up nothing. Nothing! A message had arrived shortly after she'd received the letter telling her that another e&e had turned up dead. This time in Cairhein itself, right underneath their noses. The person, or persons, behind the deaths was now taunting them and it was high time for them to understand that it did not do to mess with Aes Sedai.

 

Pulling the dark cloak around her, she stepped into the darkness and waited. Again, this was per instruction. Water dripped down to the left of her, remanants of last night's storm and a broken gutter. She took a step to the right and glanced up startled as someone appeared next to her, also cloathed in a dark cloak with his or her face hidden beneath the cowl. Carys started to say something, but the person brought a finger to his or her lips motioning her to be silent. She did as requested, but embraced the Source and held a sharp Air weave, ready to protect herself.

 

As it were, however, the dagger made of Air would not be enough. As the cloaked figure bent to speak with her a voice sounded in their direction – angry and intent. The cloaked figure dropped back into the shadows and she turned her head just in time to be tackled to the ground by a burly man. Air left her lungs in a rapid motion, leaving her throat burning and her gasping to get it back. A loud thunk drew her attention as an arrow embedded into the wall above them; a second sped through the air over the man's back and Carys let out the breath she'd just managed to catch.

 

There were screams from up the road and the sound of running feet, but she was still firmly underneath her savior. As he struggled to stand up, a pained look crossed his face and he slumped onto the wall. The Yellow scooted back, her skirt ripping as the broken pavement snagged it. She'd lost the Source in the grapple, but now fought to get it – and herself – back under control. She recognized that look; he was fading fast. Shedding all the Aes Sedai dignity she had, Carys crawled back to his side on her hands and knees. She didn't trust her legs to hold if she tried to stand up.

 

She'd opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but it was obvious once she was close enough. He was sitting just so the light of the street caught the bolt. The man looked at her with bloodshot eyes and whispered “poison,” before his eyes rolled up in his head and the furious panting quieted. No. No no no no no no, she said to herself, forcing the calm she'd been trying to find and opening the rosebud. Saidar flooded into her, a welcome friend, and she quickly Delved the man. He had plenty of injuries, but the serious one, the life threatening one was the bolt in his leg.

 

Her entire life she'd been devoted to Healing and healing people. She had seen worse, but barely. That bolt needed to come out now or he'd have no chance. She wiped off her hands as best she could and then grasped the shaft of the arrow. Apologizing silently to the man, she pulled out the offending bolt and wove a small Healing weave to staunch the blood. Casting the arrow to the side, Carys grit her teeth and formed the only weave she knew of that could save his life. All five Elements wove together complexly to form a thick Healing weave. She stretched it out until it was a small thin line and then used the point to chase out the poison. A colorless liquid seeped out of the wound in his leg, mixing with the red blood that had been spilled earlier.

 

Eventually other people found them. By then, Carys had closed up his wound and Healed his other injuries. She leaned against the wall, woozy from the massive use of Power, but happy. He would live. Unlike her informant who lay dead, a poison bolt protruding from her breast. With the cowl down it was easy to tell that she was a woman. Apparently she had had important enough information to kill for. City Watch appeared, confused and upset that they had not been there to help the Aes Sedai and her Warder. She let them assume that for the time being – that he was her Warder. “Take us back to the Teobon estate,” was all she said.

[Elessar]

..From Darkness into Light..

 

A river of light rushed into Elessar and drove the darkness away. He gasped and shivered as torrents of weaves of healing power cleansed him. It was as if a storm blew throughout him, removing everything unwanted in its path.

 

It lasted forever.

 

When he finally managed to open his eyes, everything seemed somewhat blurred. He felt exhausted but the pain was gone. He knew he had been healed by an Aes Sedai. It had happened to him several times before and he never forgot that particular sensation. His senses awakened and then it hit him: the poisoned arrow! My leg! He lay against the wall and looked at his leg. He tried to move it and it responded. Clearing his head he stared around him, spotting the woman leaning against the wall to his side. She looked tired and the Warder guessed that this was the Aes Sedai who had healed him.

 

Who had saved his life.

 

He knew somehow that the injury he had received here had been lethal. He had been injured many times before on missions with his Sedais, and sometimes those injuries had been grave, but never had he been so quickly incapacitated as with this poisoned bolt. This had been a very close call indeed. Looking above at the wall he saw the embedded arrow. The arrow that had so nearly killed her.

 

It’s an irony of life, he thought, gazing at the arrow. I save her life - and then she saves mine.

 

He was slowly recovering and as he took in the scene around him he became aware of the people standing about. A dead woman lay off to the side with a poison bolt in her chest. The Warder shook his head. Another victim. City Watch guardsmen were milling about, asking questions and keeping a lookout for possible assassins. They appeared confused and upset that they had not been there to help. Elessar overheard one of the guardsmen apologizing that he had not been there “for the Aes Sedai and her Warder”, and he understood why they would have made that assumption. He was too tired to explain and when the Aes Sedai said nothing he let the matter be. When she told the guards to take them back to the Teobon estate, Elessar was only too pleased to acquiesce. He would get Stormbreaker and his things at the inn later.

 

During the journey to the estate Elessar studied the woman sitting opposite him in the carriage which the City Watch had managed to procure for them on short notice. She was blonde haired, blue eyed and had fair skin. She was certainly no Borderlander from her looks; Elessar guessed she had Andoran blood in her. She had that ageless Aes Sedai look which made it almost impossible to pin-point her age. When Elessar had asked Leandreen many years before when she had gotten her ageless look, she had been very vague in answering. He had long ago learned that an Aes Sedai who did not want to tell you something, be you bonded Warder or no, would not do so. He wondered what secrets this Aes Sedai carried.

 

We all have our secrets, he thought to himself. Our burdens to bear.

 

Looking away from the Sister’s face, staring out into the darkness, he wondered at the circle of events which had brought him to this place. No sooner had he left Sandientha Sedai behind, mission accomplished, than here he was mixed up again with another Sedai. He shook his head, berating himself. No, that was not fair! This Sister had saved his life and he ought to show his appreciation. He had saved her life first, but even so. For some reason he chose to wait, however, and would thank her later.

 

Arriving at the estate, the carriage came to a stop and they disembarked. Soon the carriage and guards were on their way back toward the city. Elessar walked up to the building and halted. He still felt exhausted but his mind was clear. Breathing in the fresh evening air, he was glad to be alive.

[keyholder21]

The cabin was dark, as were the streets. The only light an occasional spill from a rowdy tavern. The carriage ambled on, City Watch monitoring the sides of it. They claimed to have failed the Aes Sedai once; they would not do it again. Carys let them walk along the outside. It wasn't worth the protest and honestly, right now, she was glad for their steps outside. The heavy booted feet gave assurance that the assailants wouldn't return – at least not right now. She wasn't used to adventure the way other Sisters might be. Since she was 14 she'd spent all her time in the White Tower, only venturing out to Tar Valon. The Infirmary was what occupied her; why need to go anywhere else?

 

And yet here she was, in Cairhein chasing Darkfriends. Darkfriends that had very probably tried to kill her tonight. She twitched, wanting to rub her hands along the outsides of her arms – cold from a sudden chill. Her hands didn't move though. Aes Sedai weren't meant to feel the cold and she couldn't afford to feel more vulnerable right now. What was she doing here? Why had Camigwen sent this particular group of women? Sighing deeply, Carys tilted her head back to rest on the cushion. Her questions would forever remain unasked and therefore unanswered.

 

A slight movement in the glass reminded her of the Warder that occupied the lightless cabin with her. Not that she could ever have forgotten the man who had jumped into the path of a poisoned arrow meant for her. Though aware of his gaze on her, Carys did not feel like talking. She stayed in the same position, blue eyes watching the city streets through a gap in the curtains. The feeling of his gaze melted away after a few minutes and she softly let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

 

They arrived at the estate then, the carriage slowing to a stop directly in front of the doorway. A servant stood in the doorway, his lithe frame surrounded by yellow light. Carys stepped out of the cabin, taking the proffered hand of the City Watch member directly to the left. Normally she would have declined, but a heavy fatigue had settled from the large Power use. The mystery Warder stepped off after her, his face and movements the picture of health. He stepped toward the doorway and halted, drawing a breath. Despite her weariness, she smiled at that.

 

The servant beckoned for another and together they rushed out to offer aid. The Warder refused, of course, and moved to help her. She shook them all off and forced herself to stand up straight. “Krystoff, wake the cook or find someone else to prepare food. Late hour or no, he's going to be hungry.” She pointed at the Warder, smiling tiredly. “Also, find someone to prepare another room, preferably close to my quarters. This man is my patient for the time being and I need to be able to look in on him if necessary.” Krystoff nodded, bowed, and pivoted quickly on his heel. The other servant, one Carys hadn't seen before, bowed and then walked steadily after his supervisor.

 

“The Library is this way,” she motioned, “we can make ourselves comfortable as we await food.” She pushed herself off the wall – when had she leaned back? - and walked around the corner with a purpose. Footfalls behind her said he was following. Still silent, however.

 

As the Sitting Room had become the unofficial meeting place of the Yellow entourage, the Library was generally empty and peaceful. It was exceptionally so this evening. Carys moved toward a pair of easy chairs by an empty fireplace. The Warder sat in the other, eyes downcast. Strugging to embrace the Source, Carys felt like shouting with victory as Saidar trickled into her and the fireplace burst to life. The soft light and heat emanating out was more than welcome.

 

“So.” she said, moving her eyes from the fire to the Warder's face. “Where do we go from here?”

Edited June 20, 2011 by keyholder21

[Elessar]

“So.” The Aes Sedai said, moving her eyes from the fire to the Warder's face. “Where do we go from here?”

 

They were in the Estate’s library. Upon arrival servants had come out to offer aid. He had naturally refused help - the Sister was the one they should aid - and had moved to help her. She had shaken them all off, however, and had taken command. She had ordered that some food be made and brought, for him - something he was appreciative of since the healing had left him ravenous - and that a room be prepared. When she had added that he was her patient, he had been too tired to complain. She had shown the way to the library and they had found a pair of chairs to seat themselves near a fireplace that had suddenly burst to life in not the most normal of ways.

 

That was the way with Aes Sedai. They were anything but normal. Elessar had been bonded to two Sedais in addition to much time spent in and around the White Tower and even after all these years he could not really say that he understood them. They were a race apart in some ways and sometimes Elessar had thought that the best a Warder could hope for would be to understand them some of the time. Going over her words in his mind he wondered if there was more to her question than was apparent.

 

Eyes downcast, he wondered again at the circumstances which had brought him here to this place. Why had he gone to the woman’s aid? Why had he risked his life for a stranger? It had been instinct. Pure instinct. He had felt the danger and had reacted. Just as he would have done had she been his bondholder and he her Gaidin. What a twist of fate that the woman whose life he had saved turned out to be an Aes Sedai. And one that would moments later save his life. Now they were indebted to each other and it made the whole situation rather akward.

 

No, the debt is paid, the voice whispered in his mind. Time to move on.

 

A part of him resisted, wondering if she would be safe on her own considering the danger she had been in, but she seemed fine now and would probably be happy to have him out of her life. Besides, he had his orders to return to the White Tower.

 

Raising his eyes to meet hers, Elessar replied: “Aes Sedai, I am grateful”. He said. “If someone could be sent to fetch my black stallion and my things at the “Silver Swan” I would be even more grateful.” He paused, then added. “I will return to Tar Valon in the morning and leave you to your business here.”

Edited June 20, 2011 by Elessar

[keyholder21]

His eyes flickered up to hers following the question. They were full of old pain, but honor also. Honor seems to be a rarity these days, she thought to herself, unconsciously dragging a hand up one arm in memory of tonight’s events. “Aes Sedai, I am grateful,” he said. “If someone could be sent to fetch my black stallion and my things at the “Silver Swan” I would be even more grateful.” He paused and the fire crackled as if in response. “I will return to Tar Valon in the morning and leave you to your business here.”

 

Four servants entered then, each carrying a tray what looked like two dishes. Carys laughed to herself at unending ability of servants to obliviously enter a tension filled room and alter the mood. The plates were covered with heavy silver lids to mask the scent and perhaps provide a guessing game for the eaters. Heavy wooden tables sat to either side of her armchair. She pointed at the left side and a servant nodded. Sending a swirl of mouthwatering smells into the air, he removed the lid and placed it on the stand. It was a delicious display of roast, potatoes, and beans. A thick slice of bread smeared with a thick slab of butter sat to the side. The Yellow smiled a bit in spite of her aches.

 

A rattle reminded her that she needed to see the Warder get his fill as well. Turning from her plate, she saw that was not a problem. The servants had barely lifted the lids before he dove in – a Healing hunger that was matched by none. I’ll let him eat before we …discuss. Following suit, Carys ate her meal as well, savoring in the warm yeasty bread and the soft roast that nearly melted in her mouth. She knew that the food was well prepared, but had no reason taste like this. It was the touch of death, lighting up everything else.

 

He finished before her, his Power given hunger much more a force than her own natural cravings. He stayed there, however, waiting until she finished. The Warder’s eyes flickered from her to around the room and then her again. She felt the conflict in his movements, the unease he felt in this silence. A slight frown creased her brow as she wondered why a Tower trained man would feel unease in the presence of Aes Sedai. An Aes Sedai that he had purposefully become involved with by saving her life. An Aes Sedai who had saved his. She pushed the last piece of bread into her mouth and chewed as she pondered on that thought.

 

She was Aes Sedai, yes, but she didn’t spend her time projecting one image to the world whilst cultivating another. There wasn’t time for that; too many people to save. “I would be happy to have someone fetch your stallion and things, but I would prefer that you stay here rather than leave for Tar Valon. We have need for a Warder here, especially me, apparently having stumbled onto something close to the hearts of those we are pursuing. Someone is aiming poisoned arrows at me and Saidar cannot Heal death; I cannot Heal myself. I … would feel safer if I had someone to guard my back as I search.” Her hands felt heavy in her lap and she put them on the arms of the chair, leaving her feeling more exposed. She would continue without him if she had to - perhaps hire a City Watchman or a Hired Hand to watch her back, but she'd prefer someone trained, Tower trained. She'd prefer someone who had already proven he would die for her.

 

She'd prefer a Warder.

[Elessar]

When they brought in the food, Elessar’s mouth watered. It was a feast to his eyes, Healing-induced hunger making him dive into the roast, potatoes and beans with a relish. The lovely meal gave him some strength, though he knew he would need a good night’s sleep to recuperate after his ordeals. At times during the meal he glanced inconspicuously across at the Aes Sedai who also seemed to enjoy the food. He caught himself wondering what could have brought her face-to-face with a poisoned arrow in a Cairhienin dark alley.

 

These were dangerous times indeed, the world was tumbling downward toward a cliff, and bandits, street-thugs, troublemakers and others of bad repute seized on the moment to cause trouble and havoc wherever possible. Even so, Elessar somehow felt this was different. Your average street-thug would be hard pushed to get his hands on a poison as quick-working and lethal as the one in the arrow which had nearly killed kim. It had to be a professional assassin. Why kill her? The thought did not leave his mind, though he tried to brush it away as he finished the meal.

 

He stayed there waiting until the Aes Sedai had finished her meal. His eyes flickered from her to around the room and then her again. The silence began to make him uneasy, the glances she periodically gave him in between bites made his shoulders itch, and so he turned his attention to the room itself. It was a bastion of books and it brought back memories.

 

He remembered another room, in another time and place, which had been very much the same. A private library in a manor in southern Kandor. He had been fifteen at the time. He had been visiting with his father and while the lord of the manor and his father had discussed business-matters Elessar had gazed with appreciation at the huge amount of books assembled on the wall-shelves. He had always been interested in books and especially in poetry. He remembered picking up an old volume from the shelf, “The Mirror of Your Soul” by the Saldean romantic poet Ihram Sathere, opening it reverently and reading the first poem. It was one of many poems that had stuck in his mind over the years.

 

 

A Tribute To A Maiden Fair

 

To see thou smile , my Maiden fair

Me bringeth joy , my heart to sing

For knowest thou that I so care

And who shall say what fate will bring

 

In dreams I shelter in thine arm

A blossom in the palm of light

So safe thou be away from harm

A rose protected in the night

 

There art many kinds of love

And if mine scareth thee away

Then miss thee will I precious dove

And guard thee shall I on thy way

 

 

The Aes Sedai’s voice brought Elessar abruptly back to the present. She said. “I would be happy to have someone fetch your stallion and things, but I would prefer that you stay here rather than leave for Tar Valon”, she said. “We have need for a Warder here, especially me, apparently having stumbled onto something close to the hearts of those we are pursuing. Someone is aiming poisoned arrows at me and Saidar cannot Heal death; I cannot Heal myself. I … would feel safer if I had someone to guard my back as I search.”

 

He met her eyes but did not reply. Part of him felt duty-bound and honour-bound to assist her, she was Aes Sedai after all, but part of him protested. Guilt surfaced in his thoughts, guilt and shame from having failed Aes Sedai before. If she put her trust in him and he failed.. what then? Could he live with that? I am not worthy, he thought.

 

He stared down for a moment, then raised his eyes to meet hers. When he spoke it was with a voice filled with strength but also pain. “I appreciate your trust in me, Aes Sedai. And I understand your situation.” He said. “But you should find an other protector for you and your party. There are many Warders more worthy than I.” He pulled his chair back from the table, got to his feet and walked over to a window where he remained standing, fists clenched, looking out into the unending darkness.

 

OOC: I wrote the poem above some years ago. I thought it could be fun to include it here, seeing as Elessar is very interested in poetry, books and stories. I might include a couple of my other poems later in my RP with Elessar: oh the joy of creativity! ;)

[keyholder21]

Ooc: Feel free to include them anytime you want :). It was lovely.

 

 

There wasn't the quick “my life is yours” kind of statement that she was expecting. There was merely silence, and then there was a response. “I appreciate your trust in me, Aes Sedai. And I understand your situation.” He said. “But you should find an other protector for you and your party. There are many Warders more worthy than I.” The last word seemed to hover in the air as the Warder stood and walked over to a window. Tension seemed to radiate off him, filling the entire room until she could cut it with the knife on her empty plate. From behind, Carys could see the tightness in his shoulders, his clenched fists, and a reflection in the glass – once again full of old pain.

 

Leaning back in the chair slightly, Carys tried to think through her answer. She couldn't just let him leave. She really would feel safer with him around, and despite what he said, leaving was not what he really wanted to do. Her instincts told her as much. This was something that would have to be handled delicately. ….Or was it? The Healer in her told her to tread carefully, not to damage the patient – physically or mentally. But the Aes Sedai in her told her to simply order the Warder to stay. And Aes Sedai training was difficult to compete with. So she would do both: one now and one later if he stayed. It all hinged on if he stayed.

 

She sat up and scrubbed a hand across her mouth. Walking over to the window, the Yellow erased the serene face and let her emotions show. She stared at the Warder until his gaze moved from the darkness outside the window to her eyes. Then in a quiet tone, she said, “if you appreciate my trust than honor it. There may be, and probably are, Warders that are more worthy than you, but they are not here. They have not already stepped into the line of fire to protect my life. You may go back to the White Tower if you truly believe that you will do no good here. Not one ounce. But if you don't believe that, then you will stay and you will protect and defend as you have sworn to do.”

 

She stared at him for a moment longer, her blue eyes burning, before stepping away. Carys grabbed her torn, dirty, cloak from the chair where she'd left it and slung it over an arm. It would need to be cleaned and repaired; following that it would good as new. She couldn't say the same for her dress – dark red stains colored the bodice and skirt in mismatched blobs, the hem was torn, and it looked gray instead of the light yellow it had once been. She strode toward the doorway, leaving the Library as servants reappeared, ready to clean up the late night dinner mess.

 

Hesitating, Carys grabbed one of the servants by his sleeves. “Make sure he finds his room,” she said in a hushed tone, motioning to the Warder who was once again lost in his memories at the window. “And treat him as if you would treat myself or my Sisters.” Nodding and bowing, the servant waited until she dismissed him before joining his coworker in the Library. The Yellow glanced once more at the Warder's back before she turned around and headed toward her room, leaving him to his thoughts, and to his pain. It wasn't something she could fix in a night, but it was something that could be fixed eventually and she would try her bloody hardest if he'd let her. Pain is painful, but we have it for a reason. He needs to see that instead of hindering him, his pain makes him better, stronger. She sighed and dragged her hand along the wall until she found her room.

 

Never had bed seemed so inviting. The room was dark; it smelled of emptiness and a slight lemon scent. She breathed it in as she shrugged out of the grimy dress and exchanged the filthy shift for a new one. Collapsing onto the mattress, the young Yellow did not notice the thick cream envelope sitting on her bedside table, the same crimson wax seal on its backside.

Edited June 23, 2011 by keyholder21

[Elessar]

----------------------

 

...Leandreen...

 

..Memories flashed in Elessar’s mind..

 

Carrain Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah looked at her newly bonded Warder, feeling his pain.

 

"You share your Leandreen's loyalties, I see." She said.

 

His eyes met hers and his gaze intensified as he said, with emotion, ”I hate the Shadow, always have, always will. So did Leandreen. Our lives were formed around fighting the Shadow at every step, every corner. And in the end, she died fighting the Shadow. Those bandits that ambushed us and killed her were Darkfriends, I am sure of it. I just wish I had killed them all.”

 

I should have saved you, Leandreen. My life before yours. Forgive me.

 

...Memories...

 

He saw himself standing together with Carrain Sedai watching Leandreen’s burning funeral pyre lighting up the darkness. She had seemed so regal laying there, her emerald green eyes closed and her fiery red hair embracing her so familiar face, ready for the final journey. Soon she had been enveloped in flames, in a blaze of light that defied the night.

 

Oh Leandreen, forgive me.

 

A lifetime ago, or so it seemed. A different life. A different world.

 

...Words whispered on the winds of time…

 

“You were a brave fighter, Leandreen”, he had said, speaking words of strong emotion. ”As brave as they come. You fought the Shadow ‘till the end. Just as you always promised you would.” A short pause had followed. Then he had added, “Your courage shall not be forgotten, your sacrifice will be remembered. You will be remembered. Rest in peace, Leandreen Aes Sedai of the Battle Ajah. May the last embrace of the Mother welcome you home.”

 

Goodbye Leandreen.

 

-----------------------

 

With crashing abruptness Elessar was brought out of the semi-conscious sleep wherein he had been. He sat upraised in the bed, trembling slightly, his eyes wide, his mouth open, his hands holding hard onto the sides of the bed. The flashes in his mind lingered.. and then they were gone. He stared wildly around in the darkness, tryng to get his bearings. Trying to remember where he was. As his pulse gradually slowed, memory came back to him. The estate. He was in the room he had been given. It was nighttime.

 

In the stillness he calmed himself, closing his eyes, and lay his head back again on the pillow. His breathing normalized and he brushed away beads of sweat from his brow with his hand. As his mind cleared, he slowly remembered the evening before.

 

And the Aes Sedai.

 

Approaching him by the library window after their meal, her burning blue eyes had bored into his as she had told him that if he appreciated her trust then he should honour it. She had said that there might be, and probably were, Warders that were more worthy than him, but they were not here. They had not already stepped into the line of fire to protect her life. He may go back to the White Tower if he truly believed that he would do no good here. Not one ounce. But if he didn’t believe that, then he would stay and he would protect and defend as he had sworn to do.

 

She had left him then, and he had remained alone by the window for a long time, the sting of her words mirroring the shame in his heart, his mind torn, anger drawing a veil over his eyes. Fists clenching and unclenching he had stared silently into the window, weighing the man behind the reflection he had seen there. He had not liked what he had seen. Cursing at his inabilty to simply do what was not only honourable but also his sworn duty, he had turned quickly from the window and had slammed his fist into the wooden dinnertable, almost making the servant cleaning up jump out of her skin!, rattling the plates and the cutlery and making another servant - this one male - by the door cry out.

 

He had stormed out of the room and only when he had been halfway down the hallway had he realized that the male servant had been right behind him. The servant had fearfully grabbed his arm, telling him politely to follow and he would show him to his room, and Elessar had given him a hard look but had nodded, restraining himself, and they had headed down a corridor before stopping by a door. The servant had opened the door and had then left quickly, relieved to be away. Elessar had entered the room and had closed the door behind him with not quite a slam. His anger had by this time in truth been mostly replaced by somber pain and frustration and as he had sat down on the bed, hands covering his face, the exhaustion had finally overtaken him and laying his back on the mattress, not bothering to remove his clothes, he had soon fallen asleep.

 

Now as he lay in darkness he thought bitterly of his choices. Walk away in shame of all that he was, all that he had been since he had walked into the White Tower to become a Warder so many years ago, or accept service that would undoubtedly be lacking and might very well become fatal to this Aes Sedai and her party. Why should I succeed now when I have failed so many times before? The bitter question stuck in his mind as he mulled over his choices.

 

Torn in mind and soul, Elessar Telcontar eventually fell back into sleep, a troubled sleep plagued by memories.

[keyholder21]

Heavy curtains blocked most of the sunlight, leaving the sun to filter in as tiny strips. Groaning, Carys lifted her head and looked toward the window. It was well past dawn, if the color of the light was any indication. How far past she wasn't sure. Blinking rapidly, the Yellow tried to clear the morning blurriness out of her eyes. Her entire body screamed with protest as she rolled over and sat up. A fierce purple bruise stood out against the pale white skin of her forearm. Grimacing, she reached up it to stretch. Bad move. Drawing it back down again, Carys cradled it to her side.

 

Standing gave her another set of pain and she looked down to see an even larger bruise on her left thigh as well as scrapes across her both knees. The rest of her felt stiff as she hobbled over to the mirror. She'd never had an experience like the night before, yet she chided herself for not checking her body before she dove into bed last night. She was a Yellow for Light's sake! Healing was in her blood, but apparently not in her mind. At least the Warder will be a better sight. she thought, wincing as she softly checked the cut under her right eye.

 

Well, there would be no explaining away what happened last night – if indeed any had noticed. She would need to talk to someone, to ask Healing of someone before presenting herself and her story to the group. Rolling her eyes, Carys had half a thought to stroll into the middle of their morning chat trussed up as she was. There would be no denying then that what she found was dangerous and therefore essential to their mission. ...And then they would take it away from her. Bloody ashes, she thought to herself, what have I gotten myself into? No, what did Camwigen get me into? Sighing, the young Yellow bit her lip as she stared into the dark room, considering options.

 

It was later before she discovered the letter on her bedside table. After carefully cleaning off the dirt, blood, and whatever else, from the night before, Carys had donned another pale yellow dress, this one with gray swirls decorating the bodice and the hem of the skirt. The long sleeves did well to cover the bruise on her arm; the skirts likewise with her leg. Her eye was a different story, however, as was the limp. She'd practiced around her room and had perfected it to only show slightly, but if anyone paid extra attention to her, they would know. She had narrowed her list of who to go to down to two. Life would be so much easier if she could just Heal herself.

 

Pulling back the shades, the Altaran quickly closed her eyes at the sudden onslaught of bright light. Bloody woolhead! Don't stare into the light when you open the curtains. What did you think was going to happen? Looking away, into the room, to try and regain her sight, Carys saw the letter. She froze. “Why is that sitting there?” she said aloud; the room answered with silence. Suddenly anxious, the Aes Sedai nearly ran to the table, tearing the envelope nearly in half.

 

The letter apologized for the attack on her, stating that somehow the 'network' had been compromised. That she would be in even more danger than before, but if she chose to pursue, she would find more information at a farmhouse outside of town. The former residence of a Yellow E&E that had perished at the hands of these murders. Carys bit down hard on the inside of her cheek, the coppery taste of blood leaking into her mouth. Surely this meant that she had to tell Amadine and the rest of the group, right? She could not do this on her own. She would never survive.

 

Not on my own...she thought, recalling her conversation with the Warder last night. Maybe the night had brought him to his senses. If I had someone like him with me, then maybe I could find some more information before I took it to the group. Then I wouldn't have to put any of them in danger. I can stop this before more people die. Folding the letter hastily, Carys clasped it in her right hand and strode toward the door.

 

The hallway was devoid of people, as it most often was. Despite their leaving and arriving as a group, the Yellow Sisters had mostly kept to themselves. Carys hadn't seen the point in that, but she trusted Amadine and besides, her thoughts were rarely considered by anyone in the Cairhein estate at present. Pulling her door shut, the Yellow surveyed the nearest rooms and frowned. Since she'd walked out of the Library last night, she wasn't really sure which room the Warder was currently occupying. She crossed her arms underneath her breasts, annoyed with herself for not demanding a certain room so she could know exactly where to find him.

 

There was a door across the hall, and a room to the right. It was the last room in the row. She decided to try there first. With luck, which admittedly she hadn't had much of this trip, it would be the correct one and she wouldn't be knocking on a store room. Her skirt skimmed her ankles as she walked, the light fabric felt blessedly soft against her hurt skin. She really would need to ask someone to Heal her, but this needed to be dealt with first.

 

Holding her fist up to the door, Carys hesitated before knocking. A few short clips and then she stepped back slightly so as not to be in his face when the door opened. Nothing. Pursing her lips, Carys stepped closer to the door and knocked a little harder and a little longer. This time she heard some kind of rustling. Leaning back on her heels, the Aes Sedai waited for the mysterious Warder to open the door. She nearly laughed as she tried to remember his name. Had he even told her? Had she even told him her name? What a situation.

 

The Warder opened the door, his face at first raw with emotion. He quickly created stone, hardening his face until it was impassable. He stared at her, eyes flickering to the cut under her eye and the way she delicately held her left arm. Striding past him, Carys entered the room and sat down on a chair in the corner. His face remained stoic as he glanced back at her, but his eyes held a bit of bewilderment. Closing the door, he returned to the sitting area.

 

“I'll need your answer sooner than I thought, I'm afraid. I received another letter. Whoever this person is, they followed me. They know of the attack last night and they are telling me that I can find information about the people behind these attacks at a farmhouse. Outside the city. At least a day's ride away, probably more like a day and the majority of a second. Will you stay? Here, I mean. And travel to the farmhouse with me?” She thrust the letter out in front of her, wondering at her own assurance that he was trustworthy with this information.

[Elessar]

Memories floated in his mind as Elessar moved in and out of troubled dreams.

 

-----------

 

 

He remembered her voice.. their talks.. her explanations.. their friendship.. their bond.. he remembered.. her..

 

 

Carrain..

 

Forgive me..

 

 

..Time..

 

 

..She had found him there kneeling by his dead Sedai, Leandreen’s head in his lap as tears of sorrow and anger had streamed down his face. He had lifted his head to the sky and had howled in fury. She - a Sister of the Yellow, well versed in healing pain and injuries - had approached him very carefully, had spoken with him in measured tones, and had seen his loss and his rage. She had known that like most Warders who lost their bondholder in death Elessar was losing his will to live and was ready to throw away his life in some berseker rage, likely against the Shadow. And so to save his life, and to give him new purpose, she had bonded him..

 

Another bond. Another loss..

 

 

..Time..

 

 

..He had gone through a difficult time in the months thereafter, the anger in his heart only slowly lessening, but he had embraced his new duty and had focused everything on protecting and serving his Sedai to the best of his ability. As time had gone by a friendship had grown between them and for three years they had worked well together for the benefit of the White Tower and the Light.

 

Oh Carrain..

 

 

..Time..

 

 

..On a rainy autumn morning, three years or so later, Elessar had lost his second Sedai. Madness had clouded his eyes and his mind as Carrain Aes Sedai had died on a fateful mission in the Borderlands. None of the other Sedai in the party from Tar Valon had been able to save her life. Elessar had been halfway to the Blight before one of the other Sisters had caught up with him and his mount and she had had to bind him in flows of air to stop him, so relentless had he been. It had taken a long time before he had regained sanity and had known who he was again.

 

I failed you as well, Carrain.. Forgive me.

 

 

..Time..

 

----------------

 

A sound drove him out of the dream, if dream it was, and made him sit up in the bed looking around confusedly. His mind raced, emotions bubbling. Memories floating just out of reach. Memories.. Morning light seeped into the room from the partially-curtained window and Elessar saw that it was well past dawn. Shaking his head, he brushed sleep out of his eyes and tried to discover where the sound had come from. The door. It had been a knock on the door. He stepped out of the bed, noticing that much of his exhaustion was gone, and walked across the room to the door. He opened it, his face at first raw with emotion. He quickly created stone, hardening his face until it was impassable.

 

He stared at her, eyes flickering to the cut under her eye and the way she delicately held her left arm. She was bruised; though the bruises were hidden under her dress Elessar, having seen many injuries in his time, knew they were there by the way she carried herself. His mouth tightened. He remembered how Carrain had often complained of the fact that Aes Sedai were unable to heal themselves. She hasn’t been to the other Sisters for healing yet, the Warder thought. She came here first. His eyes softened slightly and his face changed a littlle but he was unaware if she noticed as she strode past him entering the room. She sat down on a chair in the corner. His face remained stoic as he glanced back at her, but his eyes held a bit of bewilderment. Closing the door behind him, he returned to the sitting area.

 

She met his eyes and said: “I'll need your answer sooner than I thought, I'm afraid. I received another letter. Whoever this person is, they followed me. They know of the attack last night and they are telling me that I can find information about the people behind these attacks at a farmhouse.” She said. “Outside the city. At least a day's ride away, probably more like a day and the majority of a second. Will you stay? Here, I mean. And travel to the farmhouse with me?” She thrust the letter out in front of her, wondering at her own assurance that he was trustworthy with this information.

 

He stared back at her, conflicting emotions running through his head. Anger. Uncertainty. Pain. Shame. Honour. Duty. Frustration. Taking the letter from her - part of him surprised that she would trust him with this sensitive information - he read it through and then read it a second time. Turning away from her, the letter feeling heavy in his hand, he restrained the anger building in him. No, this must stop! The voice suddenly screamed at the back of his mind. He shook slightly, then took control of himself. His back straightened. He was a Gaidin! It was his sworn duty to protect and serve! She needs my help. Pushing strenuously to the side the part of him that resisted strongly, the part that screamed at him that he would fail again, that he was unworthy, he turned again toward the Aes Sedai, more confident now that his decision had been made. His face was hard - the way it often was in truth - but there were softer lines around his eyes.

 

Facing the Sister, he handed back the letter, then made a Warder’s salute and said: “I have misjudged. I am at your service, Aes Sedai!”

 

“By the way”, he added a few moments later, and for the first time there was a hint of a smile on his lips.

 

“I am Elessar”.

[keyholder21]

Carys stared at him, curiosity creeping into her senses and the faintest hint of embarrassment. Why was she just barging into someone’s room? Yes she’d saved his life, but he’d saved hers as well and she’d practically yelled at him ever since. She could almost laugh at how she had acted – just like those Sisters that she despised. She needed to apologize for how she had treated him. The letter was still extended between them, and he was still staring back at her, conflicting emotions running through his eyes as he did so. Letter first, apology after.

 

Moving his eyes from hers to the letter, the Warder grabbed the parchment and scanned what it said. The Yellow opened her mouth to discuss, but he was reading over it for a second time. She closed it, giving him time to understand the information, the situation. Out of habit, her blue eyes scanned the man, checking for any sign of the previous night’s activities. She didn’t find any of course; decades later Carys was still awed by the ability of Saidar to Heal someone wholly and completely. He turning away from her then, still staring at the letter. Frowning, the Yellow thought for the first time that he might actually refuse her and return to Tar Valon. She bit her lip and stared at his back. She would continue onto the farmhouse, of course, but it wouldn’t be the same. An uneasy feeling wormed into her stomach and sat there, pulsing. Carys could not explain why she wanted him there; it was as if she knew something bad would happen to her if he wasn’t. Or maybe she just expected. In either case, she wanted him there.

 

He shook slightly then and his back straightened. Turning back toward her his face was still hard but there were softer lines around his eyes. She took the letter as he handed it back to her and made a Warder’s salute. “I have misjudged. I am at your service, Aes Sedai!” The Yellow nodded, unsure of what to say first. She still didn’t have his name – another reason for her embarrassment.

 

“By the way”, he added a few moments later, and for the first time there was a hint of a smile on his lips. “I am Elessar”.

 

Carys smiled, “Pleased to meet you Elessar, I am Carys. I am so glad to hear that you will be joining me. The current situation is dangerous enough, without the added farmhouse in the country. But before I get to that story, I owe you an apology. You say you have misjudged, well I have mistreated. My words and actions have been nothing but harsh to you and yet you saved my life last night. I should not have spoken as hastily as I did. For that I am sorry.”

 

Plowing on, before he could argue, she motioned toward the chair across from her. If he was going to join her, he must have the full story. “Someone has been murdering people…friends…of the Yellow Ajah. This has been happening all over, but we’ve narrowed it down to Cairhein. That is why we’re here. I and the other Aes Sedai here with me, have been charged with finding the darkfriends and sending them to justice. We had had little to go on until a letter showed up yesterday. It was not addressed to any one person, but rather was instructed to go to any of the party. That is how I was given directions to the alley yesterday, that was why I was there. That letter had the same seal that this does. I still have it in my room. I will show that to you as well.

 

We must find these darkfriends. We must stop other good people from being murdered just for associating with the Yellow Ajah. I appreciate and take the support you are offering.”

Edited June 24, 2011 by keyholder21

[Elessar]

Carys smiled, “Pleased to meet you Elessar, I am Carys. I am so glad to hear that you will be joining me.”

 

She added that the current situation was dangerous enough, without the added farmhouse in the country. Before she could get to that story, however, she said that she owed him an apology. He had said that he had misjudged, well she had mistreated. Her words and actions had been nothing but harsh to him and yet he had saved her life the night before. She said she should not have spoken so hastily as she had done. For that she was sorry.

 

Before Elessar was able to say that no apology was necessary, she had already plowed on. She motioned toward the chair across from her and he nodded, seating himself. She said: “Someone has been murdering people…friends…of the Yellow Ajah. This has been happening all over, but we’ve narrowed it down to Cairhien. That is why we’re here.” She said. “I and the other Aes Sedai here with me, have been charged with finding the Darkfriends and sending them to justice. We had had little to go on until a letter showed up yesterday. It was not addressed to any one person, but rather was instructed to go to any of the party. That is how I was given directions to the alley yesterday, that was why I was there. That letter had the same seal that this does. I still have it in my room. I will show that to you as well.“

 

Elessar’s mouth tightened when she mentioned Darkfriends. His eyes hardened. He had always hated the Shadow, Borderlander-bred as he was, and he was certain that Darkfriends had killed his first Bondholder Leandreen. They are everywhere these days. A danger for us all.

 

Carys ended by saying that they had to find these Darkfriends. They had to stop other good people from beng murdered just for associating with the Yellow Ajah. “I appreciate and take the support you are offering”. She said. Her eyes met his and he nodded. “The honour is mine, Carys Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah”, he said, nodding in respect.

 

They then went on to talk about practicalities concerning their journey to the farmhouse. They needed some provisions, Carys explained which route they would take and Elessar shared some of his views regarding the danger they seemed to be facing and which precautions he thought they should take. It was some time later that Carys left to take care of some matters while Elessar headed for the estate’s stables to check on his stallion Stormbreaker, which someone had brought from the “Silver Swan”, and to retrieve his things, not the least his longsword. He would feel much better with the sword strapped at his side. After that he would go and eat a late breakfast before meeting Carys outside at a designated time.

 

Entering the stables, he saw his black stallion standing at the end row. He walked up to him and gave him an affectionate pat on the back to which Stormbreaker whinnied agreeably. He gave the horse som hay to eat, then looked around and found his belongings and his blade by the stall-wall. Grinning to himself he picked up the sword and held it almost reverently in his hands. Now he felt ready to take on the Darkfriends.

[keyholder21]

The discussion of provisions, routes, and precautions took some time; it was after midday before Carys left the Warder's room. She stopped in front of her door, hand on the doorknob. It had now been over a full day since she'd seen the other members of the party. As much as the Yellow did not want to face the other Sisters, she felt a little worried that she'd seen neither hide nor hair of them lately. Just as worrisome was the fact that none of them had chosen to look for her; no one knew of her whereabouts yesterday. It wasn't like Amadine to not touch base.

 

Practically pushing herself away from the door, Carys moved around the corner and and down two doors where an elder Sister resided. And then she turned around and stalked back to her room, the plush carpet creating whispers where her slippers met. You've been over this with yourself. You must do this and return with information. She sighed and pushed open the door.

 

The room was as she left it. A large wardrobe sat in the corner. Crossing the floor, Carys pulled open the hefty door and hastily grabbed two dresses. She stuffed them into a small bag. Shifts, a small mirror, and a brush followed. A few other small things and packing was done. Grabbing a small healing kit that she'd made long ago, Carys strode to the large mirror and fixed up the cut under her right eye. She couldn't go to anyone for Healing just yet, but she could not walk around with an open slice on her face either.

 

After washing her hands, the Aes Sedai frowned at the pale gown she was wearing. Hoisting it over her head, she replaced it with a deep purple dress – dark was better for riding – with yellow sparrows embroidered on the front. She also exchanged her slippers for hard boots, the heels creating a soft thump instead of a whisper on the thick carpet. Grabbing her belt pouch, Carys fastened it to the new dress and left her room for the hum of the city. There were a few things she needed to take care of.

 

Copper and silver bought materials, an ageless face supplied good and quick service. Gold furthered the process buy assuring their silence. Merchants practically shoved the materials at her; Carys tossed Tar Valon minted gold coins left and right. Whatever it took to get her and the Warder on the road today, before another person was murdered.

 

The return to the mansion seemed quicker than the trip to the city. Disembarking, the Yellow handed the packages to the waiting servant and instructed her to make haste to the stables. The servant bobbed down in a half curtsy, arms laden with provisions. She mumbled something and then took off toward the massive stables. Carys looked after the girl for a moment before hustling into the mansion. She needed to grab her bag but remain unseen. It didn't occur to her to send a servant; after the previous night she found it difficult to question these virtually silent men and women with anything private.

 

She needn't have worried. Her arrival and departure seemed to remain anonymous to anyone but the staff. It was peculiar and liberating at the same time, to have no Sisters checking in on her every few minutes. Carys loved the Infirmary, she lived for it, but one was never alone in the vast Healing center. It had never struck her until now that she rarely spent time alone whilst awake.

 

The stables were also quiet, albeit louder than the hallways of the Teobon estate. Horses let out soft whinnies, and grooms were scooping or brushing – creating a beautiful amalgam of sounds. She found Elessar at the opposite end, readying his horse. Hers, the mare she'd ridden from Tar Valon, stood to the side, her saddle and bags already prepared. Nodding, the Altaran shoved her bag into one of the side pockets on the gray and mounted cleanly. Elessar mounted a moment later, his face still hard but his body seemed to be brimming with anticipation...and caution.

[Elessar]

It was early afternoon by the time they began their journey to the farmhouse. The weather had changed and it was now partially clouded with a strong breeze coming out of the south-west. Even so, it was fair conditions for travelling and they set out at a brisk pace. Elessar rode in front on Stormbreaker, colour-shifting cloak blending in with his surroundings, sword strapped at his right side and with saddlebags with provisions on his other side, with Carys Sedai, dressed in a deep purple dress and looking comfortable in the saddle, right behind on her gray mare. They had agreed that the journey would take them about a day and a half under normal conditions, so the plan was to ride until sunset and find an inn in a village along their route where they would sleep the night before continuing the next morning.

 

They galloped down the road, dust swirling in their wake, and the wind streaming into his face made Elessar grin. His body had been brimming with anticipation but also caution as he had prepared Carys’ horse before taking care of his own and as they had left the estate behind, and now he felt adrenaline pumping through his veins. It felt good to be on the road again, in some way liberating after his recent ordeals. It felt like a fresh start - and in many ways it was.

 

After a while he slowed their pace and they went at a more enduring pace for the next few hours. At intervals he rode slightly ahead and behind them to scout while at other times he rode next to Carys, exchanging a few words. For the most time, though, he stayed slightly in front, keeping an eye out for any potential danger. The road was not the most travelled, though they did come upon fellow travellers at times. Mostly farmers leading wagons to farms in the near countryside. Half-way to the village they made a stop near the outskirts of a small forest. The horses needed rest and Carys and Elessar took the opportunity to stretch their legs. They drank some water from water-bottles they had brought with them, ate a little dried mutton, and spoke a few words. Then Elessar walked off to the side to check their surroundings. Nothing indicated that they had been followed but he did not take any chances. Returning to Carys a little while later he nodded to let her know that everythng seemed fine. She nodded back - and soon they mounted again and set off for the village at a trot.

 

They reached the village called Ghrainstead just after sunset. They had been lucky and had avoided rain during the trek but as they entered the village, which to Elessar’s trained eyes looked haggard and poor, with buildings and lanes placed haphazardly around a centre square area, heavy raindrops started falling from the sky, leaving splashes of water on their travelling clothes. Riding down to the centre of the village they dismounted in front of an inn called “The Golden Pheasant” and Elessar took the horses to the stables at the back to be groomed and taken care of while Carys waited at the front. He was soon back and followed her into the inn. A cloaked figure standing partially hidden on the other side of the road watched them, by the glow of a nearby lamp, enter the building and then smoothly disappeared into the shadows. Well inside they quickly spotted the innkeeper, a short chubby man with wisps of hair on his otherwise bald head, wearing an apron, who was giving orders to a barmaid, and Carys took him aside and spoke to him.

 

It was obvious that she had made an impression because soon after he was bobbing his head, leading them up to a couple of rooms on the level above. The rooms were next door to one another and as he opened them with a key he kept on asking if there was anything else they needed. He seemed very eager to please and Elessar recalled similar instances with Leandreen and Carrain on their travels when innkeepers had been more than happy to accomodate Aes Sedai. Some places innkeepers had been less eager, of course. Aes Sedai were not welcome everywhere in the lands.

 

Some time later, Carys and Elessar sat at a table at the back of the inn enjoying a meal of roast and potatoes, when a gleeman entered the stage and began to play the flute. The inn was almost full, mostly packed with locals enjoying an ale or two or ten, and many turned their attention to the gleeman as he played. The man - who was of middle years with long brown hair and the look of a scholar - wore a cloak of many colourful patches and surely had talent, though he was far less experienced than some gleemen Elessar had seen on his many travels up through the years. The Warder’s opinion of the man improved, however, when the gleeman began to sing. He had a mesmerising voice that caught you and held you in its grip. The locals applauded merrily when he was finished and some yelled for a story. The cry was picked up.

 

“We want a story!” They cried out. “Giv’ us a good one!” “One from the Age of Legends!” The gleeman grinned, loving the centre-stage attention as all gleemen did, and made a grandiose and theatrical bow to the crowd - to more cheering - before he said: “I will give you a story.” As he spoke his voice changed, as he drew them all in. “A story from before the Age of Legends, some say. An epic story of love and sorrow.” He made a dramatic gesture with his hands - to which a watching Elessar grinned inwardly, enjoying the show - and said almost in a whisper: “Listen then, to the eternal story of “Star and Moon”..

 

His voice rose slightly in pitch and then he began to sing. As he sang, a complete silence swept through the inn, every man and woman’s attention focused on the gleeman, as they were all caught up in the beauty and magic of the story....

 

 

Star and Moon

 

Princess sweet and Prince of Light

Fell in love one autumn Night

Great were days of joy and Smiles

Both together through the Miles

 

Beautiful she was to See

Handsome man was also He

Perfect couple for the Lands

Wedded true and holding Hands

 

Then the darkness fell on All

In the war , the Prince`s Fall

Tore her heart , the Princess Sad

In her grief , she went all Mad

 

Heart was broken and the Mind

Death a solace , far Behind

But at last she passed Away

To the lands beyond , to Stay

 

Mourning hard the people Cried

Hope and beauty had now Died

Then one evening up they Stared

Wonder great , the night-sky Fared

 

In the sky a star was Born

Brilliant it shone , Forlorn

And the people felt in Heart

She was back , a brand new Start

 

Tears from heaven , from the Queen

Of the sky , of beauty Seen

She would watch the land till End

Came to all that was , my Friend

 

But alone she was in Truth

Missed her loved one , and her Youth

Where was Prince and all Delight

Then she saw him , moon in Night

 

And the moon would glow with Life

Her great Prince with his dear Wife

Both together , far Above

Star and Moon , forever Love

 

---------

 

OOC: And here above in our story is another of the poems I wrote some years ago, “Star and Moon”. Enjoy! :)

[keyholder21]

ooc: tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired lol. Left the fight scene up to you so you could describe how bloody awesome Elessar is *g*.

 

--

 

The weather was pleasant – a cool breeze picked up after they left town and wafted around, grabbing a few stray strands of blonde hair and whipping them back into Carys's face. She frowned momentarily before reaching behind her to replait the braid she'd hastily applied this morning. Her hair was fine as it was, barely staying in the braid – she didn't need the wind to make it loose. It was usually half undone by nightfall anyhow. Still, she couldn't hate the wind. It was free and able to skip around on this beautiful day.

 

The scenery streamed by at varying paces. Both of them seemed to be fairly adept at taking care of their horse so betimes they would slow to a walk or a trot rather than full gallop. Green replaced brown; yellow fields replaced green trees. Elessar monitored the surroundings, looking ever more like the Warder that he was. The tension that had had deep hooks in him at the manor seemed to have melted away. New tension filled his shoulders, but it was different – it was the kind that spoke of attentiveness and caution. Well trained in noticing body language, Carys noted the swelling of his breast as confidence once more ran supreme. She smiled inwardly.

 

The Aes Sedai did her fair share of watching as well. Though she knew he was scouting as he should, the Yellow felt a slight nervousness worm it's way into her stomach when he rode ahead. She found that holding saidar was the best treatment for that. Holding the Power calmed her nerves and heightened her senses at the same time. The sun suddenly seemed brighter, the birds noisier, and the wind louder, but the recesses in the forest were not as dark and Carys could see the friendly smiles on the farmers in the fields. Holding saidar didn't help her nervousness for the Warder, however. Nothing calmed that until he rode back into her sight. It would be nice to know that he was all right whilst he was out there looking. Or good to know if he was not. ...as a Bond would do...

 

They reached the village of Ghrainstead just after sunset. The name tugged at the corner of her mind and she worked it as they walked the horses through the streets. They had been lucky and had avoided rain during the trek but as they entered the village, heavy raindrops started falling from the sky. Tugging her cloak around her, Carys felt a shiver slide down her spine as cold drops of water fell onto her exposed limbs; her legs were soaked in mere moments. Riding down to the centre of the village they dismounted in front of an inn called “The Golden Pheasant.” With a quick glance in her direction, Elessar took the horses to the stables – presumably at the back while Carys waited at the front. She stood beneath an awning. It had seen better days, but it kept most of the rain off her as she awaited her traveling companion. Upon entering, the Altaran finally figured out where she had heard of the village – one of the Accepted that had recently been assigned to the Infirmary was from here.

 

Spotting the innkeeper, a short chubby man with wisps of hair on his otherwise bald head, Carys strode toward him. Her dress dripped water as she walked and her shoes made squelching noises. She made a mental note to dry herself off as soon as she acquired some privacy. And to offer that same ability to Elessar. Taking the innkeep's arm, she spoke quietly, explaining that she was traveling through but wanted no trouble, that the pair were to have two rooms, next door to each other. The other amenities did not matter. Or so she said. After listening, the man had peered into her hood; upon viewing her ageless face he had commenced bowing and bobbing his head every few minutes.

 

She followed the innkeep as he led her and the Warder up to a pair of rooms on the level above, and then gently dismissed him. The room was larger than she'd expected, actually, for a small farming town. She supposed, however, that travelers on the way to Cairhein routinely stopped here and for that the man would need rooms befitting a Lord and Lady, or Aes Sedai. The way he'd acted made it obvious that he'd met a few in his lifetime – and some that had demanded quite a deal more than Carys did or would.

 

Some time later, Carys and Elessar sat at a table at the back of the inn enjoying a meal of roast and potatoes, when a gleeman entered the stage and began to play the flute. The inn was almost full, mostly packed with locals enjoying an ale or two or ten, and many turned their attention to the gleeman as he played. The Yellow bobbed her head to a few songs, half listening as she pondered on the letters. The Teobon estate was not one easily accessed. The first letter wasn't the problem; it was the second. Camwigen had vouched for Skechid, who in turn had vouched for his staff. But, was it even a problem? The letter seemed to be trying to help her. Didn't they? Absentmindly, she chewed on a piece of roast.

 

After playing, the gleeman put away his instrument and began to sing. It was here that he truly excelled; it was with singing that he must have earned most of those patches. His voice was wonderfully mellifluous yet carried the tinyset undercurrent of bite. Carys sang along with him under her breath, her deeper voice picking up the harmony. The singing ended much too soon, in her opinion, the majority of the crowd calling for a story instead. She turned back around, once again facing her now cooled meal, expecting to return to her ruminations. The story, however, was a tale of beauty and magic, loss and love, and she found herself as mesmerized as the rest of the crowd. The gleeman, fully aware of the crowd's attention, baited them with pregnant pauses for increased effect and hushed tones for drama.

 

It was late, later than she'd planned, before Carys returned to her room. Elessar followed behind on the staircase. She yawned and chuckled as she heard the Warder yawn too. It was interesting how something as simple as that could be contagious. Her mind considered that sleepily as she walked to the door. It was open slightly. That's weird, she thought, momentarily still fuzzy from tiredness.

Adrenaline leaped through her directly after, making her jerk back and fall into the Warder. He caught her easily, and luckily quietly. Motioning toward the door, Carys embraced the Source and stepped away. She wove a small fireball and held it as Elessar crept toward her room and the door that was slightly ajar.

[Elessar]

OOC: Much obliged... *g* Well let’s see then how our two characters fare in this time of grave danger.. ;)

 

IC: Elessar entered the partially lit corridor right behind Carys, a feeling of tiredness flowing through his body. It had been an enjoyable evening of entertainment downstairs with the talented gleeman’s songs and stories, but now the Warder looked forward to a good night’s sleep. He had only taken a few steps, however, when alertness pushed all tiredness and thoughts of sleeping away. He felt danger. Someone’s here!. Looking up the corridor toward their rooms he was just about to whisper a word of warning to the Aes Sedai when she, also alerted, took a step backwards and fell into him. He caught her easily, and luckily quietly. Motioning toward the door, she stepped away from him and let him lead. Encloaked in the Void, calmness centered, his eyes focused totally on the slightly ajar door to Carys’ room. There was a rustling sound coming from inside as if whoever was in there was looking for something. He wished he had his sword, but his blade lay in his own room and there was no time to get it, so he would have to make use of the element of surprise and hand-to-hand tactics.

 

As he opened the door a touch wider, bringing some light from the corridor into the dark room, he came face to face with a masked man. Acting on instinct and experience his upper arm and elbow slammed with force and speed into the masked man’s face, taking the other completely by surprise, so that he crashed to the floor, screaming in agony. Another masked figure from deeper in the room yelped and in the blink of a second a deadly knife flew toward Elessar, embedding itself in the door a few inches from his face. Elessar threw himself to the floor, his eyes quickly adapting to the near-darkness. “They are three in all”, he cried out to the Aes Sedai outside, as he found his feet and threw himself at the masked man who had thrown the knife. His massive leap across the room brought them both crashing to the floor.

 

Elessar punched the man hard in the stomack and heard him grunt in pain, then received a glancing blow to the head himself from the third figure who had entered the fray. He brought his arm up to deflect a second blow and then kicked out hard with his leg, hitting the man’s knee. The man stumbled and fell, crying out in pain, as Elessar punched the man beside him in the face and scrambled away from them both to get some space to move in. More light streamed into the room now, the door stood fully open, and there were noises from the door and from the corridor outside. Elessar turned his head quickly to see if Carys was in danger. The first man that he had incapacitated was getting somewhat shakily to his feet but he then moved purposefully and threateningly toward the Aes Sedai who was standing in the doorway. There seemed to be motion behind her as well.

 

“Look out!” Elessar screamed to Carys. At that moment, however, he was attacked by one of the masked men closer to him and had his hands full keeping him at bay. The man had another knife - probably poisoned, Elessar thought - in his hands and he tried to stab the Warder with it, viciously attacking him. Elessar had long experience and proficiency in hand-to-hand fighting and he drew on all his experience and competence as he countered the masked man’s quick and skilfull moves. After many thrusts and parries, feints and near-hits, Elessar managed at last to twist the attacker’s arm so he lost the knife, then he smashed his fist into the man’s face breaking his nose, producing a cry of pain and the man stumbled backwards and fell onto the bed in agony.

 

Elessar turned his head quickly again to see how Carys fared.

[keyholder21]

Fireball at the ready, Carys stared at the darkness beyond the open door. Standing against the opposite wall, she couldn’t hear anything at first. As Elessar pushed the door open a touch wider, however, it became apparent that there was indeed someone in there. She watched as a silhouette crossed in front of the window only to disappear behind the Warder’s hulking form. Her blue eyes widened as she watched the Gaidin slam his elbow into a masked face. The man fell to the floor, screaming in agony. Carys had to force herself not to rush forward, Healing weave at the ready. Her training told her to do just that, but her instincts told her to stay where she was.

 

A curse sounded from inside the room, somewhat muffled. Something slammed into the door a moment later, splintering the light wood. From the shape and sound of the hit, the Altaran guessed it was a knife. “They are three in all,” the Warder called out. Where’s the third? she thought. Carys took a step toward the room, wondering if she needed to help Elessar. She’d seen some of the training in the Yard every now and then. Some of those men were able to fend off two or three foes. And those were boys. But she had no idea how long he’d been …out of commission. She took another step toward the room.

 

The door stood fully open now; the Yellow could see her Warder. Well, not my Bonded, but still currently my Warder, yes? Blood dripped from a cut on his brow; there were red stains elsewhere. He looked injured, but not all that blood would be his. Another man lay on the floor, currently unmoving. Carys released the fireball weave and made to walk into her room. Elessar seemed to have it well under control. She stopped short of the door, however, as one of the men stood and moved purposefully and threateningly toward her. Taking a step backwards, Carys attempted to evade the hands that were grasping for her throat. She wove a weave that was known only to Yellows around the man’s heart. She squeezed just the smallest amount and the assailant paled, his hands flying to his chest.

 

“Look out!” Elessar screamed to Carys. She blinked, looking around the man toward the Warder, and then screamed as arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Surprised, Carys jerked. The weave she held jerked with her on reflex and it snapped tight. He fell to the floor dead, blood leaking out the corner of his mouth.

 

The attacker behind her merely squeezed tighter. Breaths came in shallow gasps now; dots swam in front of her eyes. Saidar started to flicker and Carys nearly wept. No. I will not, I CANNOT give up or my death is assured. Setting her jaw, the Yellow wove thin strands of Air and wrapped them around the man’s throat. As he tightened his grip on her, she tightened it on him. It wasn’t long before she was pushed away, sending her sprawling into the opposite wall. Catching herself, Carys turned around to stare at her would-be murderer.

 

His face was plain – perfect to fit in anywhere and never be remembered. His eyes, though, his eyes were black. And they burned with hate. He stared at her, chest heaving as he breathed in the shallow stream of Air she had allotted him. He stared at her as if his eyes would bore a hole through her chest. Carys blinked and looked away after a moment, unable to comprehend why anyone would hate anyone that much – let alone her. This was the first time she’d ever left the Tower, save for occasional jaunts to Tar Valon. She had done nothing to this man. Seconds later, a cry of pain sounded from within the room. Whipping her head around, she checked to make sure it wasn’t the Warder. Glad to see it wasn’t, she faced the assailant again.

 

He hadn’t moved. And he wouldn’t. Letting out a small gasp, the Yellow Delved the unmasked man. His blood broiled with the same poison that had nearly killed Elessar two nights ago. A small dagger was buried in his left armpit. Suicide. Grimacing at the death, the Aes Sedai stood with the intention of entering her room for the second time that night. This time, the innkeeper stopped her. He was climbing the stairs two at a time calling out about the ruckus. His face drained of color as he entered the landing. “I’m sorry Aes Sedai. Please m’lady, please Aes Sedai, I don’t know how this happened.” He dropped to his knees, hands clasped as he pled. Repeatedly.

 

Carys sighed. She did not want to deal with this. She wanted to check if Elessar needed Healing. She wanted to get information out of the man panting in agony on her bed. She wanted to sit down. She wanted to sleep. Yet, this was part of her duty. Bending down, the Yellow grabbed the man’s forearms and pulled him to his feet. She assured him that she knew he had no knowledge of the attack. Moreover, the Tower would be happy to pay for repairs to his building if he could find someone to help dispose of the bodies. Quietly. Bobbing his head repeatedly as she talked, he scampered off in search of those quiet friends as soon as she’d finished.

“Maybe I’ll be able to make it in this time,” the Altaran muttered to herself as she stepped toward the room for the third time that night. Elessar was inside, sitting on the edge of the bed as the masked man – unmasked by now – lay painfully on his back. Rubbing her temples, Carys sat down on a padded chair by the end of the bed. “I’m beginning to think they want me dead, Elessar.” She said with a grim smile, “But you keep coming in between and you seem to do that well. What would you think if I asked you for a Bond?”

 

 

----

 

 

ooc: Attempt #1...... *laughs*

[Elessar]

..Elessar turned his head quickly again to see how Carys fared..

 

She was facing another man, this one unmasked. He radiated danger. Elessar almost ran to help her, but just then the third figure attacked the Warder again and he was forced to defend himself. He brought up his right arm to deflect a blow, then smashed his left fist into the man’s side which produced a grunt of pain. The man was resilient, however. He took one step backwards and then struck out quickly with his left fist. Elessar twisted his body at the right moment, an instinctive move which made the blow glance off his shoulder, and then he let the momentum carry him forwards, striking the man hard in the chest with all the force he had. The masked man was thrown backwards, crashing into the bedpost. He slumped to the floor and lay there, unmoving - eyes staring into the beyond.

 

Elessar walked over to him and checked his pulse. He was dead. Blood was running from the man’s head where he had hit the bedpost with lethal force. Catching his breath, the Warder turned his head to check on the Aes Sedai. He saw her standing alone by the doorway and from what Elessar could see she seemed fine. He sighed in relief. Turning his head, he looked hard at the man laying, half on the side, panting in pain on the bed. Let’s see who you are. Eyes tightening he bent down and wrenched off the man’s mask. Hard eyes looked back at him from a bloodied face. Throwing the mask to the side, Elessar glanced at the man’s crushed nose and nodded. From the way he held his chest he guessed that several of the man’s ribs were cracked as well. Pushing him on his back - the man cried out in pain - Elessar bound his hands together using the bedsheets. He would take no chances with this man, injured or no.

 

Louder sounds came then from outside the room and Elessar heard the innkeeper’s voice. And then Carys’. No surprise the innkeeper had wondered about the ruckus upstairs. The Aes Sedai would deal with him. Checking himself for injuries, Elessar found that he had no serious wounds. Most of the blood on him was theirs. He sat down on the edge of the bed, ignoring the pains in his body. I did not fail this time, he thought to himself with great satisfaction as he watched Carys enter the room. The protesting voice in his head was very muted now. I did not fail. He almost smiled.

 

Rubbing her temples, Carys sat down on a padded chair by the end of the bed. “I’m beginning to think they want me dead, Elessar.” She said with a grim smile, “But you keep coming in between and you seem to do that well. What would you think if I asked you for a Bond?”

 

He nodded in agreement to her first statement. Someone did indeed seem to want her dead. He was grateful for her praise, though he was only doing his duty. His eyes, however, widened in shock when she asked what he would think if she asked him for a Bond, and conflicting emotions ran through him. The protesting voice screamed at him from the back of his mind while another part of him welcomed her question. But it was too much. He could not deal with this right now. He just could not! NO, not now! He slowly composed himself and then replied in what was not a totally steady voice.

 

“I would think, Aes Sedai”, - a slight pause - “that that question is not the first one we should consider right now”. Elessar said. His eyes met hers for a second, then he looked away. His voice steadied somewhat. “The first and most pressing question should be whether to interrogate our guest ” - he pointed disdainfully at the captive laying on the bed - “here, now - or take him to some safe location for questioning.” Meeting her eyes again, he hoped his look communicated his appreciation and respect for what she had asked, even if he was unable to utter the words right then.

 

“He may have friends”, he added pointedly. Friends of the dangerous kind who were waiting for him and the others to return. Friends who might come to investigate. That could complicate matters, Elessar thought to himself, just as Carys’ question of a Bond echoed pertinaciously in the back of his mind.

 

OOC: Good attempt, keep ‘em coming.. *grin*

[keyholder21]

“He may have friends. Of course he would have friends.” Carys muttered, annoyed. Her head ached something fierce and the latest bout of fighting hadn't done much good for the bruises on her forearm and thigh. “You're right I suppose. That should not be the first thing that we discuss – not that that means this matter is closed. Worrying about the other during a fight would be much easier if we were in the other's head. Not that I hope to be in any more fighting anytime soon, though it wouldn't surprise me if I went back to the White Tower with a few more ruckuses on my hands.”

 

Pulling every ounce of Aes Sedai decorum that was left in her, the Yellow pulled her hands from her temples, opened her eyes and stood. As Elessar had reminded her, this was not the time to sit on their heels and lick their wounds. Perhaps that time would never exist on this dangerous path they were sit upon. The time it was her face that was impassable; Aes Sedai serenity at its height.

 

Embracing the Source, Carys wove a Ward against eavesdropping and a Ward of notice should anyone other than the innkeep climb the stairs. “Here is as good a place as any,” she told the Gaidin. “I've Warded it against unwanted ears.” They questioned the man then, Carys beginning with the Warder interjecting on occasion. In truth, the Yellow had little idea how to interrogate a darkfriend. The White Tower had been her home since she was 14. She let Elessar guide for the most important questions. For all she was Aes Sedai, the man held only contempt for her and wouldn't answer her questions without a little prodding from the Warder. About halfway through though, it clicked for her to question the man as if someone other than him had been injured, to tease the answers out of him. She'd fared much better that way.

 

Not that he'd given them a lot. Nothing, actually, except accidental confirmation that there was important information at the farmhouse that was their destination. He kept repeating the word “intruder,” as well – practically spewing it at her as she asked him questions. It was as puzzling as his other cryptic answers. After the two of them had asked the important questions for the fifth time with no more insight into their answers the Yellow moved away from the bed to sit in the chair again.

 

Elessar checked the bindings on the man before moving to sit on the edge of the bed, facing her. He looked exhausted and Carys mentally kicked herself for not Healing him before the ruthless questioning. Standing again – which was more difficult than it had been before – she placed her hands on his head and wove a Delving weave. She marveled at his ability to still stand – let alone ignore - all the contusions and cuts he'd received. Pinpointing what needed to be Healed, Carys formed the weave and then pushed it against the wounded areas. She felt his head jerk underneath her hands for a mere moment and then it was done.

 

Fatigue washed over her. Before the Source disappeared, she tied off the weave of notice, ensuring that if anyone came onto the second landing over night, she would be awoken. It did leave then, the wondrous feeling snapping out of her with such a hurry that she momentarily worried about burn out. You didn't channel enough for a burn out. It's the exhaustion. You learned about this as a novice. Reeling backward, the Altaran barely managed to make it to the chair before her feet gave out. I am not moving from this spot she thought tiredly, leaning her head back against the cushions. The Warder looked up from the floor, his gaze cautious. She blinked at him sleepily. “I'd like one night of peace now. Just one is all I'm asking. But the farmhouse awaits.” Her limbs twitched as she tried to stand to no avail. Giving a chuckle, she closed her eyes and sleep hit at once.

[Elessar]

They left for the farmhouse the next morning.

 

There was sunshine in the sky and a soft wind blowing out of the east, as they left the inn behind. Elessar rode first on his black stallion. Behind him came their prisoner - bound on hands and feet and also gagged - laying face down across the back of a horse that they had bought cheaply from the innkeeper. The horse was tied to Elessar’s mount by a rope. Last rode Carys on her gray mare. They had discussed what to do with the Darkfriend and in the end, after weighing the options, they had decided to take him with them in case he could give them some more information.

 

The Darkfriend had not been very forthcoming the night before, however, when they had interrogated him in Carys’ room, but that had not really been a surprise. Darkfriends were more often than not a closemouthed foul lot who had sold their souls to the Dark One for personal gain. This one had looked upon the Aes Sedai with contempt and often had needed prodding by Elessar to say anything of value. What he had given them, almost accidentally, was confirmation that there was important information at the farmhouse that was their destination. The Darkfriend had kept repeating the word “intruder” as well, but had not elaborated more even after the Warder accidentally had happened to press hard against the man’s ribs a couple of times as he was trying to reach above him to make the man more comfortable in the bed. After many rounds of questioning, Elessar often having taking the lead, they had finished and Carys had returned to the chair.

 

The Warder had checked the bindings on the man and had then sat down on the edge of the bed. He had felt exhausted and something must have shown in his demeanour because Carys had found her feet and had placed her hands on him and soon after torrents of fire and ice had rushed through him, making him gasp, as weaves of Healing had swept away his pains and cuts and bruises. The Aes Sedai had reeled backward then, so exhausted she had barely managed to make it to the chair before her feet had given out. Elessar had looked up from the floor, his gaze cautious. She had blinked at him sleepily. “I'd like one night of peace now”, she had said. “Just one is all I'm asking. But the farmhouse awaits.” She had fallen asleep at once and Elessar had let her sleep where she was, putting a blanket on top of her.

 

Men had arrived in the night and had carried the bodies away without a word. No friends of their prisoner had come during the night, whether as a strike of luck or for whatever reason Elessar was grateful, and the Warder had gotten some watchful sleep. And in the morning Carys - looking much the better for the sleep - had taken care of matters with the innkeeper.

 

Now as they rode at a slow trot along the dusty road, Elessar watched everything in that way that Warders did so proficiently, gaze sweeping watchfully over the surroundings without seeming to. His colour-shifting cloak blended into the background, his sword fastened at his side. His mind should have been on the Darkfriend and on the danger that might be facing them at the farmhouse. Instead Carys’ words from the night before kept playing again and again in his head.

 

“You're right I suppose”, she had said. “That should not be the first thing that we discuss - not that that means this matter is closed. Worrying about the other during a fight would be much easier if we were in the other's head.”

 

A Bond.

 

He remembered well the advantages of “being in the other’s head” as she had aptly described it. Of being Bonded. With both his bondholders he had experienced the benefits. Knowing where your bondmate was directionwise, knowing if he or she was alive. As a bonded Warder he had also gained strength and endurance, better resistance to injury and a greater capacity to resist evil. Sometimes Elessar had also felt a feeling of shared and common purpose coming through the bond, but he had never been quite able to decide whether that had been his imagination.

 

A Bond. And a promise.

 

But you broke your promise, the protesting voice screamed at him in the back of his mind. You failed in your duty. He ignored the taunting voice though his face hardened.

 

In truth, he felt that the Aes Sedai deserved an explanation - as a matter of respect - concerning his declining the offer to bond. For he was certain that that was what it had been. An offer, not just a hypothetical question. Some considered it a Warder’s duty to bond a Sister who asked him to be her bondmate, while others believed a bonding should be consensual. Warders had been bonded to save their lives, of course. He thought of Carrain who had bonded him after Leandreen’s death. Sometimes there was need. Sometimes there was no other choice. Oh Carrain..

 

Later that day they stopped and made a small camp a little off from the road by some tall trees and bushes. The weather had turned for the worse and clouds blanketed the sky, though no rain had come yet. The wind had also gained in force and sent swirls of dust around them and made their cloaks flap as they headed for the somewhat secluded area. Once there, Elessar tethered the horses, gave them a carrot each which he had brought from the inn, and then made a quick scouting of the area before returning to where Carys sat in the middle of the small camp. He seated himself opposite her, handed her a strip of cold mutton and some water, before taking some himself.

 

They sat in silence for a while before Elessar spoke. Putting his water-flask to the side, he said: “We should be four or five hours away from the farmhouse I believe.” He said. “We are making good time.” Carys nodded but said nothing, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. He chewed noncommittally on the piece of mutton in his hand, his eyes looking toward the horses and beyond as his mind was deep in thought. Minutes of silence went by. Then he could take it no more. Turning back to the silent figure of the Aes Sedai, he sighed loudly. Having made up his mind to explain to her his reluctance to bond again and his reasons for it, he suddenly found himself unable to find the words. Clenching and then unclenching his fist, he then mustered all his courage.

 

“Aes Sedai, I owe you an explanation.” He said. Her eyes met his, an unreadable look on her face. His voice was softer than usual. “You deserve to know why I have .. great reluctance.. to bond. Again.“ A slight pause followed before he continued. “You see, I have been bonded twice before. Both bonds were broken. Both my bondholders are dead..” Forgive me..

 

Emotion changed the otherwise hard lines of his face, and his eyes became bright as he spoke to Carys at length about Leandreen and Carrain. About their bonded lives and travels with him - and about their deaths. About his pain ..and emotional struggles.. after their deaths. About his ..shame.. at having survived them, at having ..failed.. in his duty to protect them. He told about his haunted memories.. about his haunted dreams.. He told her everything, ignoring the screaming voice in the back of his head, ignoring also protests from within him that this was too personal.. He felt a need to get it all out.. he had a need for cleansing.. a need for redemption, if truth be told..

 

When he was finally finished, a long time later, he unclenched his fist and stared emptily into the trees behind Carys, unaware of the single tear running silently down his cheek.

 

High above them in a tree, a skylark sang mournfully and the sound carried on the breeze.

[keyholder21]

She’d awoken to a stiff neck and soreness all over her body. Sore from last night’s tussles and sore from sleeping in a chair. Still, the bone weary exhaustion had abated. A blanket lay over half of her – the rest pooling by her feet. Carys smiled at it, knowing it wasn’t something she’d thought to do herself. After some stretching a cup of tea, and a change of clothes, she’d been ready to set out. By that time Elessar had already made a deal with the innkeeper for another horse, tied the darkfriend across it and saddled both their horses. After settling their debts with the innkeeper, who was much more reserved after seeing the damage in the morning , she left. He was standing near the stables, feeding her gray mare a carrot when she walked out. Sometimes it was nice having a Warder around.

 

There was sunshine in the sky and a soft wind blowing out of the east, as they left the inn behind. Elessar rode ahead, the tail of his black stallion flickering lazily at the early morning flies. Behind him came their prisoner - bound on hands and feet and also gagged - lying face down. He murmured things occasionally, but neither the Aes Sedai nor the Warder chose to listen. He hadn’t said much when they’d given him the opportunity to speak, so why should they listen now? There would be time for that later, when they arrived at the farmhouse. Carys rode behind the prisoner on her gray mare. Again the day had dawned beautiful. It was difficult not to breathe in the crisp air and turn one’s face to the sunshine, and eventually she did though in the recesses of her mind she pondered what tragedy would befall the pair today. It seemed that since that first night he’d saved her – was it truly only the night before last? – she’d put him in harm’s way every chance she had.

 

Now as they rode at a slow trot along the dusty road, the Yellow watched Elessar watching everything in that way that Warders did so proficiently, gaze sweeping watchfully over the surroundings without seeming to. The colour-shifting cloak enjoyed fits on the breeze, blending into the background whether it be plains or forest. He hadn’t been particularly forthcoming himself, last night. The apparent refusal of her offer? Question? Had niggled at the back of her head all morning. She’d never heard of a Warder refusing an Aes Sedai before. Not that any ever discussed their bonding with her. In truth, it had never occurred to her that she might one day ask someone. She had planned to never leave the Tower, happy and content to work in the Infirmary. Yet now that she had, she realized she wanted one. Would they all refuse her? Light, I feel like I’m fourteen again and watching the boys fight in the street. She supposed she could just Bond him anyway. Some considered it a Warder’s duty to bond a Sister who asked him to be her bondmate, while others believed a bonding should be consensual. Warders had been bonded to save their lives, of course. All this she’d learned in her studies, but never had her teachers explained what to do if a Warder said no. It was quite a frustrating situation.

 

Later that day, they stopped and made a small camp a little off from the road by some tall trees and bushes. The weather had turned; clouds gathering ominously. It was as if the sky could read minds and was attuning itself to her mood. The wind had also gained in force and sent swirls of dust around them and made their cloaks flap as they headed for the somewhat secluded area. Once there, Elessar tethered the horses – she’d let him take her mare without a word as she set up a small camp. After returning from what she assumed was a scouting trip, he seated himself opposite her, and handed her a strip of cold mutton and some water before taking some himself.

 

They sat in silence for a while, which suited her. She had moved from the issue of his refusal to forcing acceptance that she’d never leave the Tower again. It wasn’t as if the White Tower would be attacked; the commander of whichever army would be a fool to force the hands of hundreds of Aes Sedai. Plus, she wasn’t sure how to talk to him now anyway. Pretend the offer didn’t exist? Pretend he hadn’t answered? Pretend he hadn’t answered the way that he had? She could almost laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. Here they were in a potentially life threatening situation and she was worried about how to act around the Tower trained Warder. And though apparently ageless, she was sixty-five. It was as if her teenage years had been repressed and were now coming out to play.

The silence was not to be maintained, however. Setting his water-flask to the side, he said: “We should be four or five hours away from the farmhouse I believe.” He said. “We are making good time.” Carys nodded but said nothing, chewing on the piece of mutton as her mind charged on. Minutes of silence went by. “Aes Sedai, I owe you an explanation.” He said, his voice breaking her out of her thoughts. She raised an eyebrow and stared at him. His voice was softer than it had been. “You deserve to know why I have .. great reluctance.. to bond. Again.“ She furrowed her brow at that, noticing pain light up in his eyes , the same pain that had appeared the night before last. A slight pause followed before he continued. “You see, I have been bonded twice before. Both bonds were broken. Both my bondholders are dead..”

 

Both? Dead? Emotion changed the otherwise hard lines of his face, and his eyes became bright as he spoke to her at length about his two previous bondholders. The Warder told her about their bonded lives and travels with him - and about their deaths. About the pain and the emotional struggles after their deaths. About his shame at having survived them, at having failed in his duty to protect them. He told her about his haunted memories, about his haunted dreams. He told her everything. And Carys listened without a word.

 

When he was finally finished, a while later, Elessar unclenched his fist and stared emptily into the trees behind her. A solitary tear fell down his cheek, which was a great deal of emotion from a Warder. She sat, chin in her hands, trying to process the story, the pain, the raw feelings that still resided. Two bondholders dead, no wonder he, as he put it, is reluctant to Bond again. The pain he must feel not only at two friends dying, but at twice having a piece ripped out of his mind. I’m surprised he is still standing. Still alive. Still willing to fight. I’ve seen firsthand how strong of a will it takes to survive one bondmate’s death. I cannot imagine how strong of a will he must have to survive two. High above them in a tree, a skylark sang, its song matching the perfectly to the story she’d just been told.

 

It was as difficult to respond to him as it was to listen to the pain. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, attempting to find the exact statement that would fix the situation. Of course there was none. This was life, not a book or a Gleeman’s song. Shaking her head, she tried to form coherent thoughts. “I am sorry for your losses, Elessar,” she said softly. “Your Leandreen and Carrian would be glad to know that they are remembered and honored. Thank you for telling me their stories – your story.” She paused, unsure how to segue. “Grief and guilt are powerful and exacting masters. I admire your willpower that you agreed to help me despite each and thank you.” The wind quieted then, leaving the pair in silence. He stared into the night for another hour; she stared at his back until he turned around. She wanted him to know that she was there if he needed someone - that she wasn't going to shun him because two Aes Sedai that he had happened to be Bonded to had died. It was heartbreaking, but sometimes things just happened.

 

When he finally left to do another perimeter search, Carys had quietly moved from the log and settled into her cloak to sleep, leaving him alone with his thoughts once more.

Edited June 30, 2011 by keyholder21

[Elessar]

Elessar stared into the darkness, as if looking into the mirror of his soul.

 

The wind blew softly across his brow, like the soft caress of a bird feather, but Elessar did not notice. He was lost in memories. And torn by guilt.

 

Carys’ words from a little earlier echoed in the back of his mind.

 

“I am sorry for your losses, Elessar,” she had said softly. “Your Leandreen and Carrain would be glad to know that they are remembered and honoured. Thank you for telling me their stories – your story.” She had paused, unsure how to segue. “Grief and guilt are powerful and exacting masters.” She had said. “I admire your willpower that you agreed to help me despite each and thank you.”

 

He had appreciated her praise and her caring and understanding words. And her gratitude. He knew the truth in her words about grief and guilt as well, but had found it difficult to reconcile to that. His pain was too deep, his guilt too great. It would take time for him to come to peace with himself, though he felt it had helped to talk about it all to Carys. He felt somewhat cleansed, having shared his inner pain with her.

 

They sat in silence for a long while. Though he was facing away from her and his thoughts were far away, he sensed that she remained with him and that gave him comfort. When he at last turned around, he nodded respectfully and with thanks to her, his face hardened once again, before moving off to check the perimeter one more time. A little later when he returned to the camp he saw that Carys had moved from the log and had settled into her cloak to sleep. He let her slumber and went to check on their prisoner. The Darkfriend muttered curses at Elessar but the Warder just ignored him, tightening the ropes on his hands and feet. He brushed the horses and gave them some hay to eat. Then he returned to the centre of the camp and sat down to think. He did not get much sleep that night.

 

Morning broke with sunshine covering a blue sky. The breeze from the day before was gone and the fields surrounding the forested area where they had camped looked beautiful. They broke camp in mid-morning and set off eagerly for the farmhouse. Even the horses seemed to sense that the journey was nearing its end as they trotted happily along. Elessar rode in front, as before, with the Darkfriend next and the Aes Sedai at the back. He checked the road both in front and behind at intervals but saw no danger. Even so, a nagging feeling in his gut made him unwary and his shoulders were tight as he rode on. He regretted not having slept more the night before, he did not in truth feel as alert as he normally was, but he had not thought it right to share watch-duty with Carys - she had needed the sleep, as he saw it - and anyways he had had much on his mind. His haunted memories and feelings of guilt were subdued now, pushed back into the back of his mind. He had to focus on doing his job, getting Carys safely to her destination. That was all that mattered. And do not fail her, the small voice whispered in his head.

 

They arrived at the farmhouse a little before midday. Some clouds had appeared from the south and they mirrored Elessar’s mood. His unwariness had grown as they had neared their destination and it frustrated him that he could not pin-point the reason. Dismounting in front of the farmhouse building he had taken a close look around, looking for any potential danger. He had seen nothing. Surprisingly there were neither people nor animals around and that also made the Warder suspicious. Carys dismounted and handed him her horses’ reins. He bound all three horses to a wooden fence and considered their captive. The man was silent now and safely bound. Elessar left him there and walked with Carys up to the entrance to the farmhouse. The door stood slightly ajar and Elessar pushed it open wide. He looked at Carys, who nodded back, and then he entered the building just ahead of her.

 

They had only walked a few yards into the farmhouse when time suddenly slowed for Elessar. Something is wrong. Everything started running in slow motion.. He was just ahead of Carys, stepping carefully around a corner, his eyes watching in every direction, when he suddenly heard the snap of a thread.. the wooshing sound of a drawn bowstring.. and then as his eyes widened in understanding the world stood still .. A trap! He had triggered a booby trap! Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement - something coming toward them - and with an instinctive protective reaction, he pushed the Aes Sedai out of the poisoned knife’s path. It all seemed to take forever..

 

He was, however, unable to move fast enough to avoid the knife himself, as well as a second knife which embedded itself in his chest with deadly precision. Elessar tumbled to the floor, bleeding hard. He got a knock on the head as he fell and as he opened his eyes a storm of pain enveloped him. He struggled to breathe and sensed paralysis overtaking him. Poison! The thought flashed in his mind. He sensed rather than saw a presense beside him. Who was there? Everything was so confusing.. He felt as if he were falling into blackness. I am dying. A last thought. A bitter thought. The darkness beckoned seductively. The light in his eyes started fading..